Design, implementation, and qualification of high-performance time and frequency reference for the MeerKAT telescope

The details of the MeerKAT radio telescope's time and frequency reference subsystem that enables sampling via low-jitter, low-drift microwave clock signals, and absolute timing (<= 5 ns accurate) are discussed. The subsystem's microwave and pulse per second transmission parts are now fully qualified and commissioned for the ultra high frequency (UHF) and L-bands and also provide for a 100-MHz interface and timing interfaces for S-band receivers that were installed. The subsystem includes a cable measurement system called the Karoo array timing system (KATS). Performance and differences on different bands and seasonal drift of the cable delay measurement of KATS are reported. A time scale called the Karoo Telescope Time (KTT) (which is estimated from tracking a few atomic clocks via new software) and the issuing of timing bulletins to users have been largely implemented and verified. Absolute timing calibration and linkage of KTT to the global positioning system time scale and to different UTC(k) realizations of the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) instances are described. The subsystem uniquely enables high-fidelity sampling and stable tied array configuration. The latter configuration enables timing and transient science over time spans of 5 to 10 years. Simultaneous subarraying is supported. The backend is unique for radio telescopes in terms of being very deterministic as far as timing is concerned. (C) The Authors. Published by SPIE under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Automated summary

This article discusses the details of the MeerKAT radio telescope's time and frequency reference subsystem, which enables accurate sampling through low-jitter, low-drift microwave clock signals. The subsystem supports different frequency bands and includes a cable measurement system for timing calibration. It also implements a time scale and timing bulletins for users. The subsystem's unique features enable high-fidelity sampling and stable tied array configuration for long-term timing and transient science.